A woman previously employed as a contracted probation officer has pleaded guilty and been sentenced for charges for embezzlement.
According to the office of State Auditor Shad White, LaCosta Lee was previously employed by Court Programs, Inc. She pleaded guilty to six charges of embezzling.
According to the auditor’s office, Lee collected court-ordered penalties and fees from probationers and pocketed them for personal use.
“Our dedicated team at the State Auditor’s office continues to work closely with prosecutors to get record results,” said White. “That’s how we’ve recovered more money in the last six years than any other six-year period in the history of the Auditor’s office.”
Lee received a twenty-year sentence, seventeen years suspended, three years to serve, and five years of post-release supervision. The court also sentenced Lee to repay $4,313.75 in restitution, $3,000 in fines, and $400 to the victim’s compensation fund.